Lovely Modern French Paint Palette for a New Build tours a French country home with colors chosen by its then owner, designer Brittany Jones. Paint colors for the interior and exterior work so harmoniously together that they are worth sharing. Also find some of the exact resources selected for design elements and suggestions to capture the same spirit.
Modern French Paint Palette Ideas + Design Resources
In addition to the color story, also find shopping resources to get the look.
Planning on building a home, renovating, or redesigning your exterior? SCORE. Also discover ideas from the construction and design details here.
Design/Photos: Brit Jones Design Architect: Tyler Gentry Builder: Scott Lane Homes
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
Subdued Pale French Colors
Paint colors for timeless and tranquil projects? It’s a topic that comes up almost everyday as I am consulted for help. It is always helpful to simply have a place to begin! Tours such as this one illustrate how the selections work together.
You should always begin any palette by considering the emotion/mood you wish to create. Do you want it to feel energetic? Should the mood be calm? Are you into deep and moody? Do cheerful colors reflect your style?
Paint colors provide a backdrop for many other details. Taking the time to arrive at the right ones saves time in the long run so do try to work with pros!
Keep in mind that when you are sampling paint colors, there will be some or even many rejects. But learning about what doesn’t work helps too.
Neutral Exterior Paint Ideas
Rustic board and batten shutters look authentically old and so charming. Since I have firsthand experience creating similar shutters, I can tell you they made all the difference in curb appeal!
It took me a few attempts to get the wash of paint right for our shutters. (If it is too bright, the effect may feel off and too new.)
Trim Color Idea: Duck Egg Blue
Use sample boards to test colors, and keep in mind the color you see in the paint can may look intense compared to how it will sheer out if you’re applying a wash to the wood. When I have done this, I have tried various techniques (diluting paint with water, drybrushing, brushing followed by a wet rag…), and with each project and wood species there are differences.
If products on Amazon are secured more easily for you than Annie Sloan, here’s a color that is comparable (maybe a touch less green-gray):
French Blues & Greens for Modern French Projects
Green-blues are so fresh, organic and timeless.
Aqua can be such a romantic, feminine, beachy and coastal look.
Maybe blue-green’s enduring popularity is tied to how tender and nurturant the color can feel.
Aqua and blue-grey options feel tranquil and somehow comforting.
Whether you live in a coastal environment or not, they can also be suggestive of sea and sky and naturally restful places like the ocean.
Sherwin-Williams Sealskin 7675: Exterior Trim & Doors
If you’re after a natural, rich chocolate brown, this one has both taupe and green undertones.
Another rich brown possibility is:
If you’re in need of a brown with less of those green undertones…
If you’re wondering about a shopping resource for the garage doors, I would suggest finding a master craftsperson to design something custom.
What a statement they make, and what a shame that we mostly overlook aesthetics when it comes to this part of the construction process. And why!?! It’s the first thing we often see on the front of a home, and it’s a huge detail!
Modern French Inspiration from the Facade
So many rich architectural elements to admire including stone, brick, stucco, and rustic shutters, as well as eyebrow dormers and arches.
Windows: Pella Aluminum clad in Bronze.
Lanterns: Troy – Larchmont in Aged Pewter:
Brick: Mangum Brick in Country French color with white mortar.
Doors: 10 feet tall black steel with glass.
Roof: Tamco – Thunderstorm Grey.
Stone: Castlerock Stone mix of cream and white, with white mortar.
How was the Brick Finished?
Slurry Wash for Brick Exterior
An alternative stucco application was used on the exterior brick. Called a brick slurry or brick mortar slurry, the product was hand applied in a custom tan finish.
This treatment of the brick is different from simply painting or whitewashing brick.
Brick Restoration describes the slurry here:
“Slurry is another type of mortar wash that is done by completely coating the area with a thick layer. Slurry uses the same materials as a German Smear but differs in the application. With a slurry there is full coverage of the masonry producing a stucco-type look but still allows the brick texture to show through. Typically, slurries are done with slightly tanner mortar colors. This is an excellent way to achieve the stucco look without the maintenance and cost of traditional stucco.”
What Paint Color Works for Painted Brick?
If you could use ideas for a warm white exterior paint color, find suggestions here as well as below…these are similar to today’s inspiration house:
Psst. If you are closely examining photos here of the home’s exterior color and wonder why these suggestions seem not to match exactly, there’s a reason. Paint colors for outside are affected by yellow sunlight, appearing lighter and more washed out, and other issues such as a home’s exposure. SEE THIS POST ABOUT BM BALBOA MIST and also this story with exterior colors to see what I mean.
That is why is so important to sample several different options and watch them as the light changes through the day.
With putty whites like these above, they may begin to all look the same at the paint counter. In fact, each tone has different pink or peach undertones. These undertones come into play as they interact with light and with other surrounding colors. Here’s Eider White in our kitchen with its pinky undertones:
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Modern French Paint Palette for Interiors
SW Alabaster 7008
It can truly simplify matters if you choose one main color for the entire house. But that also adds pressure since you better choose wisely! For this home, Brit Jones chose SW Alabaster 7008 with its greenish undertones.
Here are a couple warm whites from BEHR I have used that are close to Alabaster. Swiss Coffee has subtle green undertones (don’t be afraid of green – it works wonders in the proper location!).
Cameo White has grey undertones, and if you compare these two whites, you’ll see what I mean. There’s no substitute for sampling them though!
French Country Entry
Isn’t this a calm, gentle, welcoming foyer?
Sconces: Aidan Gray – Joni; Chandelier: Aidan Gray Musa Carved Arm; French armchair options: find HERE.
European commode options: find HERE; Flooring: Hill Country Innovations (Cape Cod Oak).
Color Ideas for Interior Doors
It’s such a gentle color the designer/homeowner chose for the door here!
For the soothing pale blue-green-grey paint color on this custom door, the designer custom mixed Annie Sloan chalk paints using Duck Egg Blue, Old White, French Linen, and Coco. (Bear in mind Annie Sloan changes color formulations from time to time!).
After consulting a local Annie Sloan stockist, I learned about Annie Sloan Svenska Blue…oooooh, it’s a gorgeous Nordic inspired color that may come closer to your own idea of what duck egg blue should look like.
You could subdue this tone with any number of warm whites.
How to Approach This Custom Look?
It’s always worth taking the time to create the perfect custom hue, and if you’re me…it’s also fun. The most important step is being sure to jot down the precise proportions. Then when you get it right, make sure to mix up enough for your project rather than mixing up multiple batches, each of which could be a little off.
Here is an example of a combination:
Another possibility for arriving at a muted blue-grey-green? Mix several beautiful chalk paints together for a custom color all your own.
For example, start with 1 part Vintage Duck Egg and 1 part Drop Cloth to arrive at a muted blue-green. Then, keeping track of how much you add, mix in a little Manatee Gray which will bring grey-blue to the tone. Find these chalk paints linked below.
Ideas to Get a Modern French Bedroom
Large Chandelier: Wood Carved Chandelier; Smaller Chandelier (in same French country spirit): find HERE;
Bed Skirt: find HERE. Sliding barn door is painted is hand-painted a custom mix of Annie Sloan chalk paint colors (see explanation below).
Linen upholstered ottoman: find HERE; Wall paint color: SHERWIN WILLIAMS Alabaster. French bedside tables: find HERE; Similar table lamp: find HERE;
Similar chandeliers HERE.
Sophisticated Simplicity in a Great Room
Freshened Traditional Kitchen With Chicago Brick
The kitchen in this new build has so many Old World finishes to admire.
Even the brick feels subtle!
An elegant custom range hood feels sculptural and feminine.
What a view from the kitchen window! It’s not everyday you get to enjoy pretty rustic French exterior shutters from inside!
Old World style fixtures like the faucet are harmonious with the traditional French country kitchen’s timeless style.
Copper accents which are so very French, echo the tones of the Chicago brick.
Somehow these large lanterns feel weightless and light with the lofty ceiling.
Exact Grey Paint Color in Pantry
This blue grey trim illustrates how you should look in the grey range of colors rather than blues which can go terribly wrong.
Here’s a very similar color to try if BEHR from Home Depot is more easily available to you:
Don’t you love seeing rooms with trim painted something other than white? So interesting. Easiest way to see if a color is right? Order samples with Samplize and have them delivered straight to your door.
Design Elements in This Modern French Kitchen
Dining Table: Reclaimed Pine Table; Bench: Hand-finished and Distressed Pine Bench. Single handle kitchen faucet: Danze – Opulence; White Gardenia dish soap and collection: FIND HERE. Bar Faucet: Danze Opulence and find a similar option HERE as well. Cabinet hardware: Jeffrey Alexander; Copper cookware: Find HERE; Backsplash: reclaimed Chicago brick…options HERE; Countertop: honed Arabescato marble. Paint color: SHERWIN WILLIAMS Alabaster; Cabinet hardware: Jeffrey Alexander. Custom range hood: created on site; Lantern: Feiss – Galloway; Similar Wingback Chair: HERE and HERE. Here’s a wingback chair I love: FIND HERE. Side Chairs: Round Back Linen Chairs. Floors: Hill Country Innovations Cape Cod Oak.
Reclaimed Chicago Brick
When I learned about reclaimed Chicago brick (sliced thin so it may be tiled like regular tile) years ago, there were only a couple of suppliers. Not you can find sliced brick at big box hardware stores! Find an option HERE.
Brick Flooring in Utility Room
What a great place to use this material!
Rosy Pink Accents in a Bedroom
Pale pink accents star in a feminine, light as cotton candy, kids room.
Gilded accents feel right at home even though they are fancy!
Distressed White Chandelier: Similar HERE.
Wall paint color: SHERWIN WILLIAMS Alabaster. Pink Bedding: Soft Rose – Pottery Barn.
Rugged Wood Ceiling
I admire the unfussy, under-baked look of this den.
Den Resources
Sconce: HERE, similar wall sconce: find HERE; Flooring: reclaimed Chicago brick.
Wall paint color: SHERWIN WILLIAMS Alabaster.
Ceiling: a mix of reclaimed wood and new cedar.
Bathroom Resources to Inspire
These timeless country French bathrooms while traditional, have appeal that won’t soon fall from favor.
What a difference it makes to not have standard sheets of mirror wall to wall!
I’m also reminded of the luxury building a new house affords…you can place a window in the perfect spot for flattering light in the bath.
This chandelier is everything!
Bathroom Resources
Nickel Wall Sconce: find HERE; Bathroom paint color: SHERWIN WILLIAMS Alabaster; Chandelier in Master: Terracotta Lighting “Ballerina”.
Tour a Brit Jones Designed Project
Check out this amazing design reveal for a happy client!
I hope you enjoyed this house tour! Do direct your questions about the design to Brittany Jones Design if you would like help making your own French inspired interiors come to life!
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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